Sandal



Patented Get. 24, 1939 mm m smear series Applica t ifi h liyf mfi df l :r ii l fid'flfifiz ll Claim. (of. 36-115) The present invention relates to sandals, and has special reference to sandals of the type in which the sole is made of; two sections which are hingedly connected beneath the ball of the foot of the wearer. 1

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sandal of this character which is of simple and strong construction and which provides maximum stability and comfort in walking.

Another one of the objects of the invention is to provide a sandal of this character having an upper of novel and improved construction.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved sandal in its preferred form shown while being worn in the act of walking, the foot of the wearer being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of the sandal;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. The sandal as illustrated in the drawing is provided with a sole i and an upper 2. The sole may be made of wood or other more or less rigid material and comprises two sections, a'front or toe section 3and a rear or' heel section 4, the two sections being hingedly connected.

The hinge connection between the two sections of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises two extensions 6 on the forward end of the rear section that are spaced apart to provide a relatively wide centrally located slot between them, andan extension or tongue 8 on the rear end of the front section which is received in the slot between said rear extensions 6. The extensions 6 and 8 are pivotally connected by a pin l0 which extends through alined apertures in the several extensions.

The front ends of the rear extensions 6 are.

curved concentrically with the axis of the pivot pin l0, and the adjacent surfaces of the rear end of the front section are correspondingly curved and substantially in rubbing contact therewith. The extension or tongue 8 extends a substantial distance beyond the axis of the pivot pin [0 and its rear end is inclined downwardly and rearwardly, the bottom surface of said tongue forming a continuation of the treadsurface of the front sole section. The adjacent portion of the surface of the forward end of the rear section is similarly inclined.

the inclined rear end of the extension or tongue 8 by engagement with the rear wall of the slot in the rear section serving as astop to prevent the sections turning past their dead centers. v

The joint or hinge between the two sections is it so formed that there is no danger of pinching the foot in walking, and the foot normally rests upon a flat unbroken surface. Also, the construction of the parts of the hinge are such as to tend to keep the adiacent surfaces thereof free 10 of sand and pebbles so as to prevent such particles becoming lodged between them. The rearwardly projecting tongue 8 which has its wide bottom surface extending a substantial distance to therear of the pivot pin forms a continuation of the 1 tread surface of the front section and thus pro vides for maximum stability when the weight rests on the front section during the actofwalldng. The increased area of the tread surface of the front section thus provided permits the hinge to be located at the ball of the foot but actually gives a substantial tread surface at the rear thereof.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, instead of there being a single rearwardly extending tongue or extension on the front section there are two such extensions 8" which are located at opposite sides of an extension 5' on the rear section, the extensions being pivotally connected by a pin Ill extending through apertures therein. The rear ends of the extensions 8' are like the extension 8 inclined downwardly and rearwardly and by engagement with similarly inclined surfaces of the forward end of the rear sole section serve as stops. The front end of the extension 6' is curved con- 5 centrically to the pivot pin l0 and the adjacent surface of the rear end of the front section is correspondingly curved and substantially in rubblng contact therewith. The bottom surfaces of the extensions 8' form continuations of the front sole section.

As shown, the upper 2 of the sandal comprises straps 12' which have their forward ends secured by tacks ll in recesses in the side edges of the frontsection. These straps I! cross substantially 5 at the instep and may be secured together by stitching IS. The rear ends of these straps are secured by tacks la in recesses in the side edges of-the r'ear section. The upper is also provided with a heel strap 20 of U-form that is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and has its forward ends secured by stitches 22 to the rear ends of the cross straps directly above the tacks E8. The straps l2 and 20 may be made of elastic material. With this construction of upper a single ss- 10 durable.

2 I flexible opening: is provi ed where thefoot can be readily. inserted and snugly held to the sandal sole. Tension provided through the heel strap 20 and the toe and instep straps l2 effectively 15 provement which consists in said hinge connection comprising at least one extension on the forward end of the rear section and at least one extension on the rear end of :the front section, the top and bottom surfaces of said extensions being respectively in the planes of the top'and bottom sides of said sections, and a pin pivotally connecting said extensions. the extension on the rear end of the front section extending rearwardly a suflicient distance to provide an appreciable tread-supporting surface, and the rear end of said extension on the front section being beveled downwardly and .rearwardly and adapted to engage the adjacent end surface portion of the rear section to form a stop to limit the relative turning movements of said sections in one direction said adjacent end surface portion being correspondingly beveled.

' WAILACE B. KIRKE. 

